Republican senators have expressed a loss of confidence in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the Iran war and a series of high-profile firings, according to a report.
A number of GOP lawmakers told The Hill they found the recent removal of senior figures in the U.S. military “troubling”, and raised concerns about the way the stalling Middle East conflict had become a “quagmire”.
Foremost among Hegseth’s critics was North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who said: “I don’t have any confidence in him anymore. I think he’s all over the place – he’s accelerating the retirement or forcing out some of the most distinguished leaders in the Department of Defense that we have.
“I think he’s got a massive insecurity complex, he has a lack of experience in large organizations, he micromanages too much. He’s lost my confidence.”
“Everybody knows about some of the Game of Thrones stuff going on with some of the other service secretaries and Hegseth,” Tillis continued. “It seems like he wants to run the whole place.”
The senator, who is retiring, believed some of his fellow Republicans “are probably one decision or another” away from coming out against Hegseth’s reign.
Maine Sen. Susan Collins also expressed disquiet, telling The Hill she found the recent dismissal of Gen. Christopher Donahue, the top Army commander for Europe and Africa, “deeply troubling.”
The attacks came days after Hegseth endured a torrid time in the Senate appealing for more money to prosecute a war that has already cost $37.5 billion.
But Hegseth will need the support of Tillis and Collins if he is to get his emergency budget request through the Senate, where the narrow conservative majority is further complicated by the prolonged absence of Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is struggling with his health.
West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst warned the secretary the public is “growing weary” of the unresolved conflict and that Congress is uneasy with the expense involved and what some consider a lack of transparency, exemplified by recent confusion over the number of U.S. casualties sustained so far.
Critics also believe Hegseth should have foreseen Tehran responding to the Operation Epic Fury airstrikes by closing off the Strait of Hormuz to drive up global oil prices.
The Independent has reached out to the Pentagon for comment on the criticisms raised.
Hegseth pushed back at critics of the war during his appearance in front of the Senate Appropriations Committee last week.
“Your characterization of this incredible effort as a failure is reckless and it’s irresponsible and I think it smears the sacrifice of the troops who are out there to ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon,” Hegseth told Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
“Shame on you and others who call this a quagmire and a failure and want to turn around and say you want to support the warfighters.”
Among the conservatives remaining supportive of Hegseth in The Hill report included Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who urged him to “finish the job” in Iran by driving up the intensity of strikes.
Texas Sen. John Cornyn meanwhile argued the U.S. still had sufficient military might to force Iran to reopen the crucial strait without granting major concessions.
